Ultrasensitive and Rapid Circulating Tumor DNA Liquid Biopsy Using Surface-Confined Gene Amplification on Dispersible Magnetic Nano-Electrodes.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection has been acknowledged as a promising liquid biopsy approach for cancer diagnosis, with various ctDNA assays used for early detection and treatment monitoring. Dispersible magnetic nanoparticle-based electrochemical detection methods have been proposed as promising candidates for ctDNA detection based on the detection performance and features of the platform material. This study proposes a nanoparticle surface-localized genetic amplification approach by integrating FeO-Au core-shell nanoparticles into polymerase chain reactions (PCR).

Multifunctional Nanoparticle Platform for Surface Accumulative Nucleic Acid Amplification and Rapid Electrochemical Detection: An Application to Pathogenic Coronavirus.

Of various molecular diagnostic assays, the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction is considered the gold standard for infection diagnosis, despite critical drawbacks that limit rapid detection and accessibility. To confront these issues, several nanoparticle-based molecular detection methods have been developed to a great extent, but still possess several challenges. In this study, a novel nucleic acid amplification method termed nanoparticle-based surface localized amplification (nSLAM) is paired with electrochemical detection (ECD) to develop a nucleic acid biosensor platform that overcomes these limitations.

Submolecular Ligand Size and Spacing for Cell Adhesion.

Cell adhesion occurs when integrin recognizes and binds to Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) ligands present in fibronectin. In this work, submolecular ligand size and spacing are tuned via template-mediated in situ growth of nanoparticles for dynamic macrophage modulation. To tune liganded gold nanoparticle (GNP) size and spacing from 3 to 20 nm, in situ localized assemblies of GNP arrays on nanomagnetite templates are engineered.

Surface-ligand-induced crystallographic disorder-order transition in oriented attachment for the tuneable assembly of mesocrystals.

In the crystallisation of nanomaterials, an assembly-based mechanism termed 'oriented attachment' (OA) has recently been recognised as an alternative mechanism of crystal growth that cannot be explained by the classical theory. However, attachment alignment during OA is not currently tuneable because its mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we identify the crystallographic disorder-order transitions in the OA of magnetite (FeO) mesocrystals depending on the types of organic surface ligands on the building blocks, which produce different grain structures.

Magnetic Control and Real-Time Monitoring of Stem Cell Differentiation by the Ligand Nanoassembly.

Native extracellular matrix (ECM) exhibits dynamic change in the ligand position. Herein, the ECM-emulating control and real-time monitoring of stem cell differentiation are demonstrated by ligand nanoassembly. The density of gold nanoassembly presenting cell-adhesive Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) ligand on Fe O (magnetite) nanoparticle in nanostructures flexibly grafted to material is changed while keeping macroscale ligand density invariant.

Fluorescent detection of dipicolinic acid as a biomarker in bacterial spores employing terbium ion-coordinated magnetite nanoparticles.

Anthrax is a bioterror agent because of its toxicity and the tolerance of its bacterial spores. Thus, researchers have attempted to develop various nanomaterials to detect dipicolinic acid (DPA), a biomarker of bacterial spores. Nanomaterials containing lanthanide ions have received considerable attention, owing to their potential to exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity in the detection of DPA via chelation with molecules.

Multi-Component Mesocrystalline Nanoparticles with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity.

Mesocrystals, consisting of small subunits, have gained research interests owing to their ability to simultaneously modify material-specific properties and interactions among subunits. However, despite these unique characteristics, most mesocrystals are composed of a single material, and there is a disjunction between academic discovery and practical application. In this study, the synthesis of multi-component mesocrystalline nanoparticles composed of Fe O , ZnFe O , and ZnO subunits using a polymerization induced heterogeneous nucleation method is reported.

Design of Magnetic-Plasmonic Nanoparticle Assemblies via Interface Engineering of Plasmonic Shells for Targeted Cancer Cell Imaging and Separation.

Magnetic-plasmonic nanoparticles have received considerable attention for widespread applications. These nanoparticles (NPs) exhibiting surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activities are developed due to their potential in bio-sensing applicable in non-destructive and sensitive analysis with target-specific separation. However, it is challenging to synthesize these NPs that simultaneously exhibit low remanence, maximized magnetic content, plasmonic coverage with abundant hotspots, and structural uniformity.

Strategy to control magnetic coercivity by elucidating crystallization pathway-dependent microstructural evolution of magnetite mesocrystals.

Mesocrystals are assemblies of smaller crystallites and have attracted attention because of their nonclassical crystallization pathway and emerging collective functionalities. Understanding the mesocrystal crystallization mechanism in chemical routes is essential for precise control of size and microstructure, which influence the function of mesocrystals. However, microstructure evolution from the nucleus stage through various crystallization pathways remains unclear.

Single Centre Experience on Decision Making for Mechanical Thrombectomy Based on Single-Phase CT Angiography by Including NCCT and Maximum Intensity Projection Images - A Comparison with Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Non-Contrast CT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to suggest that computed tomography angiography (CTA) is valuable as the only preliminary examination for mechanical thrombectomy (MT). MT after single examination of CTA including non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) and maximum intensity projection (MIP) improves door-to-puncture time as well as results in favorable outcomes.

Methods: A total of 157 patients who underwent MT at Dong Kang Medical Center from April 2015 to March 2019 were divided into two groups based on the examination performed prior to MT : CTA group who underwent CTA with NCCT and MIP, and NCCT+magnetic resonance image (MRi) group who underwent MRI including perfusion images after NCCT.

H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the Republic of Korea: Epidemiology During the First Wave, from January Through July 2014.

Objectives: This study describes the outbreaks of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Korea during the first wave, from January 16, 2014 through July 25, 2014. Its purpose is to provide a better understanding of the epidemiology of H5N8 HPAI.

Methods: Information on the outbreak farms and HPAI positive wild birds was provided by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency.

Endovascular coil trapping of a ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the vertebral artery using detachable coils and micro-tornado® coils.

We experienced a patient with a ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the vertebral artery who was treated by trapping of the lesion using Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) with micro-tornado® coils (MTCs). An 80-year-old male was transferred with a ruptured left vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA). The dissected portion of the vertebral artery was effectively trapped using GDCs and MTCs.

A dumbbell-shaped meningioma mimicking a schwannoma in the thoracic spine.

A 50-year-old man presented bilateral hypesthesia on and below the T6 dermatome and paresthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intraspinal extradural tumor, which located from the 6th thoracic vertebral body to the upper margin of the 7th vertebral body, continuing dumbbell-like through the intervertebral foramen into the right middle thorax suggesting a neurogenic tumor (neurofibroma or neurilemmoma). With the patient in a prone position, we exposed and excised the tumor via a one stage posterior approach through a hemi-laminictomy of T6.

Radiological and clinical results of laminectomy and posterior stabilization for severe thoracolumbar burst fracture : surgical technique for one-stage operation.

Objective: This study aimed to show the possibility of neural canal enlargement and restoration of bony fragments through laminectomy and minimal facetectomy without pediculectomy or an anterior approach, and also to prove the adequacy of posterior stabilization of vertebral deformities after thoracolumbar bursting fracture.

Methods: From January 2003 to June 2009, we experienced 45 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures. All patients enrolled were presented with either a neural canal compromise of more than 40% with a Benzel-Larson Grade of VI, or more than 30% compromise with less than a Benzel-Larson Grade of V.

The trends of composite environmental indices in Korea.

In this paper we construct for the first time an annual Composite Environmental Index from 1986 to 1995 in Korea, which is useful for evaluating the efficiency of environmental policies. Nine types of environmental problems are examined. On average, the composite index has increased annually by 5.